Saturday 3 December 2016

TWO SPIRITUAL VICES AND THEIR CURE. PART 1

"AND SEEK HELP THROUGH PATIENCE AND PRAYER. AND IT IS INDEED EXACTING, BUT NOT FOR THE HUMBLE IN HEART WHO BEAR IN MIND THAT THEY ARE TO MEET THEIR LORD, AND THAT TO HIM THEY ARE TO RETURN." (SURAH AL-BAQARAH:45-46)

Hubbe-Ma'al (love of material wealth) and Hubbe-Ja'ah (love of worldly status) are two internal vices which destroy a person's both worldly and eternal lives.

Following are the outcomes if a person is afflicted with Hubbe-Ma'al:

1. It breeds miserliness and greediness which results in his wealth not contributing anything to the welfare of other people.
2. He becomes selfish so that he does not see anything wrong with defrauding other people, not giving other people their fair due when selling something, engaging in bribery, using other unfair means of taking money from other people, and exploiting other people, to increase his own wealth.
3. No matter how much such a person earns he is so driven by making more money that he remains preoccupied with it even at times of leisure and relaxation. The wealth which should have been a source of pleasure for him, becomes a burden for him.
4. Even when he knows what is right and what is wrong, he does not wish to accept any guidance that would limit his engaging in his insatiable appetite for wealth.

Similarly Hubbe-Ma'al results in Takabbur (arrogance), selfishness, violation of rights of others, lust of power and resulting bloodshed, and similar ills which turn this world into hell.

To be continued...

Adapted from Ma'ariful Quran, Interpretation of Surah Al-Baqarah, by Mufti Muhammad Shafi RE

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